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October '08
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August '08
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Bob’s October Movie Preview
By Bob 10/2/2008
 Now that we have gotten through the sludge of September movies, it’s time for some Oscar contenders, and movies that think they’re good but not. Halloween is also this month so there is bound to be a lot of random horror movies going on and of course a Saw film to soak in. Whatever happens though, I’m gonna guess that at least one of the following gets some nods come Oscar time. With that, my October Movie Preview:
Cops, Robbers, and Blah
10) Pride and Glory: October 24th
From the director of Miracle comes one of the most clichéd trailers of ALL TIME. Edward Norton as A COP. Colin Farrell as HIMSELF. What more could we want from a movie? I don’t know, and I will likely never find out because this is not one flick I will be seeing.
9) Max Payne: October 17th 
As I feverishly go through my mind trying to think of a video game adaptation that has actually been a good movie, I’m also reminded of all of the bad movies Marky Mark has made over the past ever (excluding The Departed and Boogie Nights of course). I would be shocked if there is anybody who is actually excited for this, as anybody who actually played the game has probably outgrown the genre.
8) Body of Lies: October 10th
Leonardo Dicaprio. Russell Crowe. Ridley Scott. Something about spies. The trailers really tell us nothing about this film except, “How am I supposed to run an operation when you’re running a side operation.” I don’t really know what that means, but Leo says it in the trailer. This film looks like another lame attempt by Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe to win Oscars. I’m not buying it.
7) Flash of Genius: October 3rd
Greg Kinnear stars as an man who invents the intermittent windshield wiper, and then has it stolen from him buy the major auto manufacturers. This just looks like a boring film that will get a lukewarm response. For some reason, however, it has been getting a huge level of marketing with television and even radio advertisements. I doubt people will buy it.
6) RocknRolla: October 10th
Guy Ritchie is back in the genre he knows best, and this appears to be an English gangster film much in the mold of Lock Stock and Snatch. We’ll see if he still has his stuff, but for now, I’ll just pop in my DVDs of the older films that I can trust, and look to be almost identical in plot to this one.
Movies that Intrigue Me
5) Changeling: October 24th 
Angelina Jolie stars in this Clint Eastwood film about a woman whose son goes missing and is returned with something different. Any film that Eastwood directs (that’s not Flags of our Fathers of course) is worth checking out, and this looks to be no different. It got solid reviews with it premiered at Cannes, and Angelina Jolie is ready for a solid role.
4) W.: October 17th
 A film that is certain to be the years most controversial, Oliver Stone directs this biopic about our current president. While I am sure Stone will exaggerate many of the details, there is no denying that he has put together an awesome cast including Josh Broling (as Bush), Elizibeth Banks (as First Lady Laura), James Cromwell (as his father H. W.), Richard Dreyfuss (as Cheney), Thadie Newton (as Condoleezza Rice) and others as the rest of his cabinet. Whatever happens in this film, it will certainly be interesting.
3) Synecdoche, New York: October 24th
A film that I have been awaiting since last year, this is Charlie Kauffman’s directorial debut. I have loved the films he has written (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Being John Malkovich, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, and Adaptation. ) and this should prove to be equally compelling. It stars Philip Seymour Hoffman as a playwright who attempts to put on a production in a warehouse that includes a scale model of New York. It will probably boggle our minds, but that is Kauffman, isn’t it?
2) Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist: October 3rd
Michael Cera and Kat Dennings star as the eponymous Nick and Norah who meet each other one night in New York and have adventures. Something about the trailer really brought this movie to my attention, probably the indie style that I love. Cera is always great, and Dennings was really cool in Charlie Bartlett, so I might make my way to a cinema this week to check it out.
1) Zach and Miri Make a Porno: October 31st 
Seth Rogen and Elizibeth Banks star as two best friends who decide to make a porno together. This is Kevin Smith’s first film since Clerks 2, and I can only hope that it matches that film in hilarity. The only thing I don’t understand, is why are they releasing this film on Halloween? I guess there is probably a Saw film being released anyways.
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The Buzz: 11/15/2007
By Aaron
Movies worth $10
 Hitman (release November 21, 2007; click here for preview) – this movie looks ridiculous, and although I never played the game I am excited to see an action movie action movie. Timothy Olyphant plays Agent 47, an elusive assassin hired to kill…someone. Does it really matter? Step back. Agent 47 is “a man bred from the world’s deadliest criminals, raised by an exiled brotherhood of the church, his purpose: to rid the world of the evil that infects it – he is a necessary evil.” Do I need to say more? Picture a darker, bloodier, Bourne style, on the run, actioner. An unknown, Olga Kurylenko, looks like a great love interest (read: hot) that reminds me of Asia Argento (for better or for worse).
The Great Debaters (release December 25, 2007; click here for preview) – sure, little biased, but I am psyched for this biopic/true story. I guess it’s more of a true story but it does focus on Melvin B. Tolson (Denzel Washington), a professor who helps his students at Wiley College form a debate team that goes on to challenge Harvard in the National Championship. The cast also features Ghost Dog Forest Whitaker and his son, Denzel Whitaker. Yes! There are TWO Denzels in the movie. Think Remember the Titans meets Finding Forester meets Thumbsucker. I’m sure as hell going to buy a ticket.
 I Am Legend (release December 14, 2007; click here for preview) – looks awesome – and the preview is great. Then again it tells you almost nothing about the plot. A quick look at imdb and the plot is a more nuanced 28 Days Later-esque film about a scientist who cannot stop a terrible plague that only he is immune to. He tries to create an antidote with his blood, but time is running out as The Infected try to claim the last man on earth. Will Smith pretty much does not make bad films, so I expect this movie to be awesome. And I am in no way worried that my high expectations will ruin the movie.
Revolver (release December 7, 2007; click here for preview) – this movie got terrible reviews overseas and took a suspiciously long time to make it stateside. But after seeing the new preview, I have little doubt this movie will be GREAT! It has all of the things that could make it great: Jason Statham and Ray Liotta, poker, smarts and Guy Ritchie camera angles. Sure, some people overseas thought the movie was confusing. But we’re smarter here in America. Nah, just kidding. The preview almost shows too much and I can see how some could get confused, but the movie looks well worth the risk, more good than bad.
Remember previous suggestions coming soon to theaters near you: Southland Tales this weekend, Enchanted next weekend
TV Buzz
 Great episodes of House, Nip/Tuck and Pushing Daisies made up for a WEAK Friday Night Lights last Friday (read a review here). But if you want to read about your favorite TV icons of all time, Entertainment Weekly put together a good list that feature Bill Cosby and Lucille Ball in their rightful place in the top 5. Yeah yeah, this belongs in the nostalgia section or the news section – but there just is not a hell of a lot to say about TV.
A touch of nostalgia
Remember the Titans was on the other day and it reminded me how much of a joy sports movies were. It was not until Friday Night Lights (the movie) did I like another movie about high school football more than Denzel’s take on a high school right during integration. The movie deals with important themes, includes real characters, and is a lot of fun. I guess it was nostalgic because it made me pause and realize how much fun high school was.
 Also, The Princess Bride is being released again with more features. You can watch the trailer for the new release here. Honestly, it does not look like more than the collector’s edition Making Of segment (which I have). But if you do not own a copy of this classic, I guess you COULD get this one, which supposedly has more to offer. When it comes down to it there is probably less – studios just reissue DVD’s with newly discovered footage all the time and charge $20 for a DVD that had been selling at $10.
What the papers say
Google featured an interesting article about the decline in original movie songs making it on the radio. It goes into a brief historical analysis of popular songs that were written for movies that became #1. The article bemoans how movies use preexisting music and turn those “best of” compilations into hits. I love those though – one of my favorite movie soundtracks is for Almost Famous. Then again my other favorite is Prince. From Batman. Not Purple Rain. And I am dead serious. Listen to it.
 Entertainment Weekly was one of the many entertainment magazines/blogs to publish an article about Dumbledore’s outing by J.K. Rowling. The article analyzes the positives and negatives of the richest woman in the worlds calculated actions, ultimately concluding that they think it is a victory for Gays in movies. Frankly I do not understand what the big deal is or why, if this was important to J.K. to reveal, she did not have the guts to put it in one of her books. Or did she and it was edited out?
Mayrin Villanueva – a Mexican soap star has apparently been cast in Bond 22 as the main Bond Girl. Hard to tell if she will be anything special – but the casting marks a return to older movies when more unknown actresses were cast, instead of the likes of Halle Berry. She looks passable. If I was Bond I would buy her a drink.
 There was a story that almost slipped past me announcing that Jennifer Morrison (House’s Dr. Cameron) will be starring in the new Star Trek movie. Now I really will have to buy a ticket. Seriously though, Morrison will be playing a seemingly integral role as Kirk’s love interest and the mother of his child. Now if only I could land the role of Kirk…
Um…really???
Bee Movie leaped over American Gangster to seize control of the box office. How did you let this happen? A movie with mediocre reviews and bad word of mouth INCREASED its market share? I guess the other question here is also why American Gangster dropped a larger percentage share than Bee Movie despite good reviews and good word of mouth. Gah – kids movies are weird box office animals. This weekend, can we PLEASE go see movies with live actors in them?
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